Christian Slater

Christian Michael Leonard Slater is an American actor born on August 18, 1969, in New York City. He made his feature film debut in The Legend of Billie Jean in 1985 and gained wider recognition for his breakout role as Jason "J.D." Dean in the satirical film Heathers in 1989. Over a multi-decade career, Slater has established himself as a versatile performer across film, television, stage, and voice work.

Slater was raised in New York City by his parents, actor Michael Hawkins and casting executive and producer Mary Jo Slater. His half-brother Ryan Slater is also an actor, and his great-uncle was radio personality Bill Slater. Slater attended the Dalton School, the Professional Children's School, and the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. He began acting in childhood, making his television debut on One Life to Live at age eight before appearing on Ryan's Hope and making his Broadway debut in the 1980 revival of The Music Man.

After early film roles in The Name of the Rose and Tucker: The Man and His Dream, Slater gained prominence through Heathers, Gleaming the Cube, Pump Up the Volume, and Young Guns II. In 1991, he starred in the box office hit Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Throughout the 1990s, Slater led or appeared in films across diverse genres, including Mobsters, Kuffs, Untamed Heart, True Romance, Interview with the Vampire, Bed of Roses, Broken Arrow, Hard Rain, and Very Bad Things.

Beginning in the 2000s, Slater maintained an active schedule across film, television, and voice acting. His film credits include Bobby, Alone in the Dark, He Was a Quiet Man, Nymphomaniac, The Wife, We Can Be Heroes, and Blink Twice. On television, he appeared in series such as The West Wing, Alias, My Own Worst Enemy, The Forgotten, Breaking In, and Mind Games. As a voice actor, Slater contributed to FernGully: The Last Rainforest, Archer, The Lion Guard, Inside Job, and DC Animated Movie Universe films.

Slater earned critical acclaim for playing the title role in the USA Network series Mr. Robot from 2015 to 2019, winning the 2016 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film. He later starred in the 2024 fantasy series The Spiderwick Chronicles, earning a Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Performer. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for television in 2025.

Slater was married to Ryan Haddon from 2000 to 2007, with whom he has two children. In 2013, he married Brittany Lopez, with whom he has two children. Slater practices Kempo Karate and divides his time between Miami, Florida, and Manhattan. Throughout his career, he has supported charitable organizations including Global Green, Whatever It Takes, 21st Century Leaders, Nelson Mandela’s 46664 campaign, and the USO.